Tassimo Winner!!!

#75...
Priscilla said...

I follow tassimo on FB.

Congrats Priscilla I will be contacting you via the email you left and you have 48 hours to respond. 

Thank you for all of the entries and I look forward to having more reviews and giveaways in 2011.

Tassimo T20 Review and Giveaway!!!

I recently received the Tassimo T20 to review and offer a giveaway. I was so excited to be able to get the opportunity to review such a new and stylish machine. But I was much more excited to be able to offer a GIVEAWAY of this awesome machine to one of my readers.

The Tassimo T20 retails for about $129.99 and is small and compact which uses less counterspace. The Tassimo T20 can make coffee, tea, cappuccino, latte, crema, espresso and hot cocoa, all in about 60 seconds. It has a water tank on the back of the brewer that you can keep filled so you have the convenience of a fresh cup of coffee whenever you want. The Tassimo T20 uses T Discs that you insert to allow you to get a single serving of beverage. Tassimo offers more than 40 beverage and flavor varieties to satisfy everyone - from 13 distinctive beverage brands, including Milka, Gevalia, Maxwell House and Settle's Best Coffee. Tassimo even satisfies your coffee-house coffee cravings with a great variety of Starbucks brands - including New Cappuccino Primo and Latte Primo. The brewer reads the T Disc which has a bar code on it and knows exactly what it is making.

My husband used the machine far more than I did as I am not much of a coffee drinker. He LOVES this machine, he has posted on his Facebook page daily about his love for this machine.  He thought that the Cappuccino's tasted just like Starbuck's and had no complaints. We bought the Hot Chocolate T Discs and enjoyed hot chocolate this past Sunday during a blizzard. The kids thought it was pretty cool. 

Overall, our family has all enjoyed this brewer and I believe that it would be a perfect Christmas present for the coffee drinker in your life!

Tassimo is giving away one brewer to one lucky reader! This is limited to US only. I will provide the winner's information to Tassimo and they will ship the brewer directly to the winner.

To enter you MUST follow Finding Blessings in Everyday Life through Google Friend Connect. (you can do that on the right sidebar). You must leave a comment letting me know that you follow and that comment needs to include an email address so that if you are the winner I can contact you and let you know.

Extra entries:
Follow Finding Blessings in Everyday Life on Facebook (one entry)
Follow @FindingBlessing on Twitter (one entry)
Follow Tassimo on Facebook, post on their wall that you were sent there by me (remember to come back and leave a comment to enter the giveaway) (2 entries)
Follow Tassimo on Twitter (one entry)
Blog about the giveaway and link back to Finding Blessings in Everyday Life (8 entries)
Suggest your friends to follow Finding Blessings on Facebook if they follow and post who sent them on the wall you get an extra entry!

Giveaway ends December 28th at 11:59pm at which time I will use random.org to select the winner. The winner will be notified via the email address left in the comment. Winner has 48 hours to respond otherwise a new winner will be selected. 

Disclaimer: I was sent one Tassimo T20 and 2 boxes of  T Discs to review, no monetary compensation was received. The opinions are completely mine and my families with no other influence. Others opinions may differ from ours.

Holidays

With the holidays being here I am sure you all are as busy as I am. I am so happy that we have gotten so many enteries into the Tassimo T-20 giveaway.
I have some upcoming reviews and giveaways coming and I hope you will come back and check them out!
Happy Holidays from the bottom of my heart!

PetCakes WINNER

Using Random Generator....with 54 entries....the winner is....#2!
Wendy B said...

I LIKE Finding Blessings on Facebook :)

Wendy B has 48 hours to claim her prize!! : )

PetCakes Review and Giveaway *US Only

Are these not the cutest little puppies you've ever seen? They are soft and colorful and beyond adorable! My daughter fell in love with all four of them the moment that I opened the box.  She has taken them to school with her everyday and plays with them all evening at home.  She talks to them, loves on them and plays with them.
PetCakes would be an awesome gift for Christmas, birthdays and Valentines Day. They would be perfect for reward gifts possibly for good grades or good behavior.

PetCakes Series 1 features these cozy collectibles puppies, for ages 3 and up. They are sold individually; each has a suggested retail price of $13.99. PetCakes are available at http://www.toysrus.com/ (online only, not in stores), http://www.etoys.com/, http://www.amazon.com/ and specialty stores.

PetCakes Series 1 is made up of these sweet puppies:


Randy Candy™ is a lovable mutt, scampering around playfully and taking long naps in his cupcake wrapper. Randy Candy is topped with tasty frosting and a cherry.

Blueberry Buddy™ is a Shar Pei who acts tough for his size but is a loving push over who’s as sweet as the blueberry frosting on his head. When sleepy, Blueberry Buddy cozies up in his own cupcake wrapper.
Twinkle Sprinkles™ is a playful, loving, and mischievous Beagle, whose colorful pink sprinkled frosting top looks good enough to eat! Twinkle Sprinkles likes to yelp when happy and sleep in her cupcake wrapper where her nose stays nice and toasty.
Coco-Coconut™ is a fluffy poodle with a loving side that is as sweet as a frosted cupcake. Cuddle Coco-Coconut and keep her cozy in her cupcake wrapper.


WellMade Toy Manufacturing Company has generously offered one reader 2 PetCakes of the company's choosing.

 Mandatory Entry: you must follow me on GFC and simply leave me a comment (make sure you leave a valid email address so that I can contact you) below telling me which PetCake is your favorite.

Extra entries:
Follow me on Twitter (1entry)
Like Finding Blessings on Facebook(1entry)
Blog about this giveaway on your blog (5 entries)
Tweet about the giveaway once daily -comment letting me know you did so (1 entry daily)

This giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on December 15th. The winner will be selected via random.org and I will notify the winner via email. They will have 48 hours to claim their prize otherwise I will select a new winner. WellMade Toy Manufacturing Company will send the 2 PetCakes to the winner.

I received no financial compensation for this post. I did receive 4 PetCakes to review and form my own opinion of the products. The opinions are my own and others opinions may differ from mine.

Wilton Pops in a Post Blogger Contest

I love to bake. I love making special little treats for my family. With that being said I am also a very busy Mom. I wish I had more time to bake. When I found out that Wilton was having a Bloggers Pops in a Post Contest that I had to join. I was so pleasantly surprised when I received an email telling me that I was one of the first 40 entries and that my package would be arriving soon.
And let me tell you it arrived soon...I literally received it that afternoon!
When I opened the box I was so excited to receive all of this:

YES! All of that awesomeness in one box! I felt like I had just had Christmas! I immediately grabbed the Pops! Sweets on a Stick book and just sat amazed at all the cool stuff that they had made out of cake (made into cakeballs) and brownies (made into browniepops). I knew that I had a challenge set out ahead of me to come up with something original and creative. I had all intentions of doing this project around or before the New Year however as I stated here we had some sickies in our house. So after all of that cleared up I set out to work on my project.

Honestly I laid in bed thinking about what in the world I was going to create. My husband laughed at my "baby your a firework" idea so that was pitched. (I am certain that it would have been the winner though. Wilton hit me up I will be glad to share it with you.LOL)

I decided on "Just BEE-cause"...

The "grass" is made up of browniepops, the bee is a cakeball and the flowers are cookiepops. Oh these were so fun to make and yes they did require a little bit of work but it was totally worth it. I felt like the idea in my mind came out in the end product and I am now ready to move on to making more pops!

I started out with the browniepops as it seemed logical in my mind to start with the "grass". So I made the brownies according to the package and then used the handy dandy browniepops mold that was included in my package and baked for around 25 minutes, after letting them cool completely I popped them right out!

They are the cutest little things! And super easy to get out of the mold. After letting them chill for a few hours I melted some green candy melts and started inserting the sticks. After inserting the sticks I again chilled the pops before I began dipping them in the candy melts. I then let them set up and they were done!

While things were cooling or chilling I did continue working just with a different part of the project.

Next I made a vanilla party sprinkle cake according to the directions on the box. I cooked it and let it cool for about 5 minutes and then cut it in half and put half in a bowl and started crumbling it. I then added 1/2 a cup of buttercream frosting and mixed that all up with my hands just kneading it all together. I then put that mixture in the freezer and let it freeze for 30 minutes and then took it out and made it into small cakeballs. After the making the cakeballs I again froze the cakeballs however this time for about 2 hours. There is no need to worry freezing the cakeballs it helps keep the shape and makes them easier to work with. After the cakeballs were ready I melted the yellow candy melts and inserted the sticks and again let them freeze for about 30 minutes and then dipped them into the yellow candy melts and let them set up. After they were completely set up I then added the details of my bee. Using edible markers I added the stripes, face and butt. I then added the wings and antenna's using brown sprinkles and pink candy triangles. I seriously heart these lil bee's, as did Olivia she would not stop talking about them.

The flowercookies were made using a simple roll out cookie recipe and then put into the cookie pan. The sticks were added before putting the pan in the oven and they cooked that way. After the cookies were done and had cooled about 5 minutes I gently loosened them and they released when I picked them up. I then let them cool completely before decorating. I used the rest of the buttercream frosting to decorate the cookies.

And that is how my project was made. I really did have a blast making the POPS! All of them the cakepops, browniepops and cookiepops. I hope that you all will try it out yourselves the possibilities are endless!
Here are a few more pics of my "Just BEE-cause" project:

I want to thank Wilton's of the opportunity to participate in this contest and I wish everyone good luck.

I was sent some products that I used to participate in this event however I did purchase some of the products used on my own. I did not receive any other compensation and am entered into a contest to win a $500 Visa gift card or 1 or 9 $100 Visa gift cards. My opinions are my own yours may differ.

Finding Blessings in Everyday Life: Tassimo T20 Review and Giveaway!!!

Finding Blessings in Everyday Life: Tassimo T20 Review and Giveaway!!!: "I recently received the Tassimo T20 to review and offer a giveaway. I was so excited to be able to get the opportunity to review such a..."

Project GiveBack.org

At Christmas time it seems we all think more about "giving". Be it to the Red Kettles that are outside every store or donating a toy to a less fortunate kid. As a couponer, or dealseeker I often try to get extra of the freebies to donate to foodbanks. But honestly there are charities out there that need us more then just during the holiday season.

GiveBack.org can definately help out for those looking to donate throughout the year. It is pretty simple actually. Go here and sign up for a new account. You will automatically be given $5.00 in your account. You can use this to donate to one of the charities that is near and dear to you. They have made it extremely simple to donate the money. You simply add the charity to your foundation and then you can distribute the money amongst the different charities in your foundation. The hardest part I had was not having enough money to give to all the charities that I wanted to. However, you can add funds to your foundation or you can shop to earn money for your foundation. You can shop over 400 retail shops and earn up to 15% back.

Signing up for GiveBack.org is completely free, there is no cost to you or the charities.  All of the charities must be registered with the IRS and you can easily manage your donations through one account and receive one tax receipt at the end of the year.

What are you waiting for....go sign up and start helping out a charity!


As a member of One2One, I have not been compensated for my review however I have been entered into a giveaway for the opportunity to attend Blissdom. My opinions are 100% my own, others might disagree.

NBC's "Community" Christmas Episode

Do you watch NBC's Community? It is on Thursday at 8PM EST/7PM CST. This is a comedy about a group of misfits that attend Greendale Community College.
At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talking lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group that eventually learns more about themselves than their course work. 
Also among the series stars who comprise the group are: comedy legend Chevy Chase ("Chuck") as Pierce, a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel") as Britta, the 20-something dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement") as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcée; Danny Pudi ("Greek") as Abed, a pop culture junkie; Alison Brie ("Mad Men") as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; Donald Glover ("30 Rock") as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way, and Ken Jeong ("The Hangover") as Señor Chang.

ABOUT THE EPISODE: ABED'S UNCONTROLLABLE CHRISTMAS
 in this special stop motion animation episode, the meaning of Christmas is lost and Abed's intense fixation on Christmas concerns the group.
When Abed (Danny Pudi) wakes up in stop-motion animation, he takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) become growingly concerned about Abed's mental health and enlist the help of Professor Duncan (John Oliver). The group undergoes hypnosis to explore Abed's winter wonderland and soon unravel the truth behind Abed’s madness. Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, and Ken Jeong also star.

I absolutely LOVED this show! I have never watched it before but will certainly be watching it from now on. I loved the comedy of the show and in this episode I love how the characters are helping a friend find the "meaning" of Christmas. This is definately an episode that you and your family can watch together and really enjoy the show plus have the opportunity to discuss with your children the "meaning" of Christmas.
If you watch the show I would love to hear your thoughts!!!



Disclosure: As a member of One2One Network I received the opportunity to preview the episode and write a review.  I am entered into a drawing to win prizes however the review is my honest opinion. Others opinions may differ.

Kathryn the Grape- Just Like Magic! Book Review

I had the opportunity to review Kathryn the Grape-Just Like Magic! This wonderful book was written by Kathryn Cloward and Jody Duhamal. We have had this book for a couple weeks and this has become a favorite of my daughter Olivia's.

This is a story about a little girl, Kathryn, who has a magic butterfly named Maggie, who has a magic wand and she gives Kathryn one also. Maggie teaches Kathryn to pay attention to how she is supposed to  use and share her magic with others. Kathryn uses the wand at night to scare away monsters from under her bed, she uses it when she is scared or nervous and even uses it to help a friend. The wand can not be used for not so good things as it will not work.
Kathryn uses the wand when she decides to play on the softball team. It helps her overcome her fear and play softball terrific.
In the end Kathryn discovers that the magic is really inside of her and that everyone can be magical.

This is a cute book that I believe all kids will love.  It has a wonderful message that everyone is special and with a message like that it invites a wonderful conversation with your child.

I received a copy of Kathryn the Grape-Just Like Magic! for review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions are 100% my own.

I am Featured on Friendly Friday Bloghop!!!

I am so grateful to be featured on the Friendly Friday Bloghop. Thanks for the opportunity guys!!

Print New Coupons

Don't forget that it is a new month and you can get new printable coupons at Coupons.com and Smartsource.com.  You never know when the print limit will be met so you might want to hurry over and check them out.

12-05-2010 RedPlum Coupons!

RedPlum Coupon Insert
Alka-Seltzer or Alka-Seltzer Plus product 10 count or larger Save $1.00/1 (1/31/11)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Fast Powder Packs product Save $2.00/1 (1/31/11)
All Liquid Laundry Detergent 28 load or larger Save $1.00/1 (1/9/11)
Build-A-Bear Workshop Save $10.00 off a purchase of Save $30.00 or more (12/31)
Cesar treats prime rib flavor Save $2.00/1 (1/30/11)
Cesar treats filet mignon or grilled chicken flavor Save $2.00/1 (1/30/11)
Depil Silk Hair Remover Save $1.50/1 (2/28/11)
Ester-C product any Save $2.00/1 (1/19/11)
Flex-a-min supplement any Save $5.00/1 (1/18/11)
Folgers coffee products 7oz or larger , Folgers Singles or Folgers Gourmet Selections K-Cup protion packs Save $1.00/2 (1/31/11)
Garnier Frustis style product no trial Save $1.00/1 (1/15/11)
Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment Save $1.00/1 (1/15/11)
Garnier Moisturizer or Cleanser Save $2.00/1 (6/15/11)
Garnier Nutrisse shade or Multi- Lights kit Save $2.00/1 (3/15/11)
Glade Plugins Scented Oil Lasting Impressions holder Save $3.00/1 (1/16/11)
Glade Plugins Scented Oil twin or two single refills Save $1.00/1 (1/16/11)
Glade Premium Room Spray 9.7oz Save $1.00/1 (1/16/11)
Goya Coconut products Save $.75/2 DND#5 (2/28/11)
Hefty Basics Paper Plates Save $1.00/1 (4/30/11)
Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies Save $1.00/2 DND#5 (1/22/11)
Kellogg’s Crispix, All-Bran, Rice Krispies and/or Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cereals 10oz or larger mix or match Save $1.00/2 (1/16/11)
K-Y Brand Product any Save $2.00/1 (1/31/11)
K-Y Brand Intense Kissable Sensations, Couples Lubricants or Intrigue product Save $4.00/1 (1/31/11)
M&M Holiday products Save $2.00/3 DND#5 (12/25)
Maybelline Colorsensational, Lipcolor, Pearls, Lip Liner, Lip Gloss or any New York Lipcolor Save $2.00/1 (1/15/11)
Morton System Saver II Pellets Two bags of 40, 50 or 80 lb OR Two bags of 40 or 80 lb Morton Rust Remover Pellets or THREE bags of 25 lb Morton System Saver II Pellets Save $1.00 (4/3/11)
Nivea Body Lotion 8.4 floz – 16.9 fl oz Save $1.00/1 (1/31/11)
Nivea Body Wash for Women 8.4 fl oz – 16.9 fl oz Save $1.00/1 (1/31/11)
Nivea for Men Body Wash 16.9 fl oz 500 ml Save $1.00/1 (1/31/11)
Nivea Lip Care Product Buy One Get one FREE value Save $3.99 (12/31)
Pedigree Treat for Dog Buy 3 get ONE FREE value to Save $4.29 (1/30/11)
Pedigree treats for dogs Save $1.00/1 (1/30/11)
Pedigree treats for dogs Save $2.00/2 (1/30/11)
P.F. Chang’s Home menu meals for 2 Save $1.00/1 (2/13/11)
RevitaLens Ocutec Multi-Purpose Disinfecting solution Save $4.00/1 (1/5/11)
Similac 1 QT Concentrated Liquid product Save $5.00/1 use between (12/5/10 –1/31/11)
Similac 1 QT Concentrated Liquid products Save $5.00/2 use between (1/1/2011 – 2/28/2011)
Smuckers Orchard’s Finest premium fruit preserves Save $1.00/1 (2/28/11)
Snuggle Fabric Softener Liquid or dryer sheets Save $.75/1 (1/16/11)
Superpretzel Soft Pretzel Item Save $.50/1 (2/28/11)
Temptations Treats for cats Save $1.00/2 (1/16/11)
Temptations All natural treats for cats Save $1.00/2 (1/16/11)
Yoshi Blade Save $2.00/1 (2/28/11)

Day 30 of being THANKful

I can't believe that tomorrow is December 1st. Where in the world did this month go? Well for the most part I think I spent it in bed on meds. I am so glad to be feeling better. As a whole I am thankful for my life. I am so thankful for the people in my life and for those that have helped me out. I am thankful for where my family is right now and realize that every road that we have traveled down has lead us to right where we are today and we are very blessed and thankful!
As this month ends I am glad that I did these posts. I am glad to know that I have taken a moment everyday to stop and be thankful. Just because the calendar turns the page it doesn't mean that we should stop being thankful. I hope that we all will take a moment everyday and be thankful.

Book Review Karen Kingsbury "A Time to Dance"

I have always loved to read and when I get my hands on a "good read" I want to do nothing else but read. I started reading Karen Kingsbury's A Time to Dance last night and finished it last night. This is the second book I have read from this very talented author and I will tell you that it captivated me.
This is a story about love, marriage, betrayal, God and commitment. John and Abby, this couple has been married for 21 years and have reached the decision to divorce. They have 3 kids who they need to tell however due to happy occassions that involve the kids they postpone the announcement until summer.  The decision to divorce seems to haunt them as they question the reasons behind it. The characters question themselves and their God. This story involves many touching moments, many real moments.  I will tell you that this is the only author that has ever made me cry while reading a book.
I would recommend this story to anyone!

I received a copy of this book free from BookSneeze for my review, I received no other compensation. The opinions are my own.

Day 29 of being THANKful

I am so thankful today for downtime...I had a wonderful day off with my husband. We took the kids to school and then went out for breakfast. I am so thankful for these moments. We rarely get the opportunity to have just a meal alone. We love our kids and love having them and always put them and their needs first but having the opportunity to just have a moment is great. I am thankful for the company I had today and for being able to go to breakfast and afford it and for having the day off of work.

Frito-Lay

Frito-Lay's is my favorite brand of chips! I have always been partial to them. I recently received an awesome box from Frito-Lay for enrolling in their fan program. In it they included some interesting facts about the company.
Did you know that they not only are they devoted to making their chips tasty and more nutritiuous but they also were the first company to remove the partially hydrogenated oils from their cooking back in 2003?
That a 1 oz. serving of Lay's Classic potato chips has about the same amount of sodium as a slice of white bread.
They also offer a Lightly Salted line of chips available in Lay's and Ruffle's potato chips and Frito's corn chip, which contain 50% less sodium than their regular line.

I was so impressed with their welcome box for the Fan Program. I received  a reusable shopping bag, a chip clip, a water bottle, 3 FULL SIZE bags of chips...Tostito's, Sunchips and Lightly Salted Potato Chips. They also included an information sheet that had a coupon for a free bag of chips. (*due to some technically difficulties I do not have a photo of what was included)


As stated above I received a gift box from Frito-Lay which included a shopping bag, a chip clip, a water bottle,and 3 bags of chips. I received no other compensation for this post and all opinions are my own.

Upcoming posts

I have some reviews and giveaways coming up this week. I am anxious to get back to blogging and sharing deals, trips and coupons with you. I have some reviews and giveaways coming up within the next few days. Having been sick for most of the month of November I am ready to launch into December (hopefully much healthier) with terrific giveaways. Especially as a thank you to all of you wonderful readers. I have a goal of exceeding 500 GFC followers before Christmas and to get more Facebook and Twitter followers.
As most of you are I am READY to see what December brings for all those special Christmas deals.

Day 28 of being THANKful

I am so thankful for my lil Princess Olivia. She is named after my Dad and is definately a gift from Heaven. She is spunky and tough but she loves her babies and getting her nails done. I love that she loves her big brothers so much, she is always wanting to play with them. She loves going to school and coming home playing teacher. I am so grateful for this little girl she is definately a blessing to our family.

Day 27 of being THANKful

I am thankful for the friends in my life. I moved away from most of my childhood friends but still keep in touch with most of them. I am thankful that I have them in my life still and that we have that bond and we have such sweet memories. I am also thankful for the friends in my life from my new home town. I am so grateful for all the wonderful times we have had together from watching our kids play sports together to having that night out. I love being able to turn to them when I need advice or just need to vent. Through it all I am so grateful to have such a wonderful group of friends in my life. I am so thankful!

Day 26 of being THANKful

I am so thankful for the ability to go shopping. I have a job that allows me to spend money, a car that I can drive there, coupons that I get to help sweeten the deal and blogs to follow that help me find the best deal. I am so thankful that I have this opportunity.

Day 25 of being THANKful

I don't have a picture of my entire family but today I am thankful for each and everyone of them. My parents, grandparents, inlaws, husband, children, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nephew and cousins. Though the distance my separate us our love and our bond never keep us far apart. I love you all!!!

Day 24 of being THANKful

I am thankful for all volunteers in our community. Those that help out in the schools, hospitals and charity organizations. It is nice to have people who want to help make a difference in others lives.

Happy Thanksgiving

From me and my family we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful to have many kind and loving people in our lives. May God Bless you and be with you always.

Rayovac Mom's that Rock!!!

Rayovac is celebrating moms and all they do to make the holiday season bright with the Mom Rocks the Holiday Sweepstakes.  Consumers have a chance to win one of three $1,000 cash prizes or 20 Rayovac Rocks kits including Rayovac batteries and a full set of Paper Jamz, one of the hottest toys this season.  Imagine how you, or someone you know, could rock the holiday gift list with $1,000!

From now through Sunday, December 5th, simply “Like” Rayovac at facebook.com/Rayovac
Then, go to the Mom Rocks tab and click on the official entry form which is also available on rayovac.com/Promotions/Mom%20Rocks.aspx.  Entrants use the official entry form to share in 120 words or less how they – or their mom – rock the holidays

 

 

Day 23 of Being THANKful

Today I am thankful for YOU!!  I just wanted to take a moment and let you know that I appreciate you all and am very blessed that even though my posts have been limited this month you have still stuck by me. I apologize for the lack of deal posts I have been sick and two of my kids have been also. I have been fighting bronchitis and sinus infections while the kids fight ear infections and colds. I do thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Day 22 of being THANKful

This is my Austin. I am so grateful for him. He has always been my responsible one, caring and soft hearted. He has not been dealt an easy hand but has made the most of it. I am so excited to see the path that he will travel down in adulthood. He loves music, hanging out with friends, going to concerts and drumming. I have no doubt in my mind that music is in his future! I am very proud of him and thankful for him.

Day 21 of being THANKful

I am thankful for my husband's family. They have helped make him into the person he is today and for that I am grateful. I am blessed to have been welcomed into this family. His family is huge! There are so many of them that it is crazy but they are all so loving and caring. I am most thankful for Grandma Betty. She passed away in May 2009 and missed terribly but she played such a major role in John's life. She was the most loving and forgiving person and an avid Cubs fan. We miss her and love her and are truly thankful for her.

Day 20 of being THANKful

I am thankful for what some of us that for granted. I am thankful for heat, food and water. Every morning when I drive to work and travel down the dark streets I see homeless people and I realize that I am so extremely lucky to have a roof over my head and my childrens, I am thankful to be able to feed and cloth my children and I am thankful that we have water to drink and cook with and to take shower with. I am thankful!

Day 19 of being THANKful

I am thankful today for being able to coupon and find the deals. In today's world I find it hard to think about shopping without coupons and deals. I am thankful for all the other bloggers out there that list the store deals and post wonderful deals. I am working up to adding some of those features to my site however I want to take it slowly so I don't become overwhelmed. I am thankful for all of you that are reading my blog also.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Days 17 & 18 of being THANKful

I have to tell you the last few days are kind of a blur. I went to the doctor Monday after work and was diagnosed with bronchitis. I slept most of yesterday and am home from work again today. So that leads me up to what I am thankful for...these past few days have left me thankful for doctors, modern medicine and my cozy warm bed. Yes that is 3 things but seriously I have needed them all and am thankful that I have them so I bunched them together for one. I complain about the price of medicine and doctors visits but when you need it is nice that it is an option.
I am also thankful that I co-workers that care. In my job typically if you miss work the next day you are welcomed to a nice pile of work waiting for you. My boss text messaged me last night and told me if I needed to rest some more that I should stay home another day....seriously! I am so thankful that I have today to get my energy built back up. (I say this as my body is screaming for a nap!) I am thankful!!!

Day 16 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for my house! It may not be much but I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and I am safe and warm.

Follow Me Back Tuesday

Day 15 of Being THANKful

Today I am thankful for my old classmates. I was saddened this weekend to see on Facebook that one of my childhood friends had lost her daughter this weekend. I would not have known this if other classmates who live in the area still had not posted their condolences on her wall. I was proud to know that even though more than 15 years have past since many of us have been together we still surrounded her with love. I had been debating if I really needed to be Facebook friends with most of my graduating class since most of the time we rarely speak to each other but after this weekend I am glad that I still have these guys "in" my life.

Days 13 and 14 of being THANKful

I am extremely thankful for my husband. He drives me crazy, annoys the crap out of me and sometimes just plain ticks me off but he completes me! I love him and I am thankful for all of the sacrifies he makes for our family. His dream is to be a stand-up comedian however because we decided that we didn't want our kids raised in daycare he works second shift while I work first...this means he can not do his comedy. I know that he dreams of being able to get back on stage to perform and wish that I could make his dreams come true.  Thanks JCP for all you do for me and our family. We love you and are thankful for you!

Day 12 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for quiet time. I have about 15 minutes in my day when J leaves for work, O is napping and A and D are not home from school yet. This is my 15 minutes of quiet time. It seems like a luxury really because on the days that the kids don't have school and I don't get my 15 minutes of quiet time I really miss it.

10 Holiday Survival Tips

How do you keep your sanity during the holidays? I love the holidays and all the hustle and bustle that goes along with it. I will admit however that I am often finishing things up as we are expecting our guests to arrive or heading out the door. I hope to be more prepared this year and will share with you my 10 tips to survive this holiday season.

1. Organization is the key to survival. Start making your lists. Who are you buying presents for? Who are you sending Christmas cards to? Do you know where you are supposed to be on what day? Start with a binder and put in some regular lined paper and dividers. That way you will just need to grab your binder when you get ready to shop or prepare your cards. I would also put in there a few page protectors to hold valuable coupons and a calendar.

2. Do you host a dinner party or are you a guest? Start making your list as to what you need for your dinner(s).  It's early enough that you can start looking for the good deals. Keeping a checklist will help to make sure that you won't have to make any last minute trips to the store.

3.Will your children have a gift exchange at school? Do you need teacher gifts? Bus driver, mailman, babysitter, hairdresser?  These gifts can really add up if you are not prepared and end up running out to pick something up really quick.  Think of something that you can either make or buy in bulk that you will be able to separate out to make a cute individual gift. One year I bought a box of stylish Christmas ornaments and gave them out individually. Now each year when they put the ornament on their tree they think of my kids.

4. Baking can be stressful if you let it be. Pick a few cookies or desserts that you would like to make. Stick to it, have fun making them and include your kids make it a new tradition. You can simplify your baking by using the refridgerated cookie dough or buy sugar cookies in the bakery and decorate them yourself.

5. Order your Christmas cards early, get the envelopes ready with the stamp and all and then hold on to them until you are ready to mail them out. That means if you do not have that "perfect" family picture yet, you need to plan on getting that soon. You might consider using Tiny Prints Christmas Cards. Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique stationery from photo cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards and business cards. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side the Holidays will be a cinch! They offer adorable Thanksgiving Cards, Christmas Cards, Hanukkah Cards, and even New Years Cards. All fully customizable and personalizable.

6.Shop with your binder and have a list in there of what you are buying, who you are buying for and what you have already bought. I know that I always hate going out for a couple more gifts for one of the kids because I feel like they don't have as much as the other kids.

7. Remember that this time of year is about family, friends and loved ones. It's not about spending all of your money and being stressed out. Take time out to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. Don't take on more than you want to. It is ok to say no.

8. Do you travel? Make sure that everyone knows what the plan is. When are you leaving and returning. Do you have a travel bag ready with books,movies and games? This is something you can have ready in advance.

9.Traditions are important to the holiday season. Sometimes we get so busy doing for everyone else that when we look back on it we realize that we didn't take the time to create a memory for our kids of just us. That was a hard one for me after we moved. I felt like I needed to please everyone and we didn't have any time with just us at home with our traditions. Over the last couple years we have gradually added events and meals that we want to have just us 5. It makes me happy to think that my kids will have great memories of traditions that we created together.

10.Volunteer, donate or give in some way. Help out someone that may not be as fortunate as you are. What a great way teach our kids how fortunate they are.

Most of all remember the reason for the season!!! 
What tips do you have for surviving the holidays? What tips do you have?


I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a $75 Tiny Prints gift certificate! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Day 11 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for all of the men and women that serve in the armed services. I am thankful that you have unselfishly given yourself to protect me and my family. I appreciate you and am thankful to you and your family for your commitment and service. I pray that God is with you always. I pray for your family that they may have peace of mind to get through the days when you are away. I pray that you know that you are loved and prayed for.  God Speed!

Day 10 of being THANKful

D is my middle child. I am so blessed to have him! When I was pregnant with him he was way over due! I remember walking and walking trying to go into labor. He was stubborn even after they induced my labor. I had to be at the hospital at 6am and didn't have him until 5:36am the next day. He was rushed to NICU and spent 6 days there. That was the most difficult thing I have ever endured, leaving my child at the hospital and leaving the hospital with out my child. He has been my child that is always sick or needing to go to the Dr. between asthma and allergies and ear infections I am certain I have paid for at least one Dr. to retire. D is full of energy, he loves to laugh and joke around and is very intelligent. He is like his Daddy ALOT! I am so thankful to have my D! He is a loving, kind lil man. He is a good big brother and looks up to his big brother like he is a hero. D is awesome in sports, he excels in basketball and baseball. D I love you and can not imagine my life without you. I love you for who you are and know that whatever it is that you become when you grow up you will be wonderful! God Bless you my dear son!

Thanksgiving Traditions

I am curious what are your traditions for Thanksgiving? My family and I travel to spend Thanksgiving in Northern Illinois with my side of the family. We typically gather at my Mom's and enjoy a dinner with all the "fixin's"! We stuff ourselves and then get the table cleaned up and then all the ladies get the ad's out and make our lists. The kids will look through the ad's and let us know what they want.
The tradition seems to be changing a little bit as most of the "grandkids" are getting to their teens and beyond and the ad's just simply don't have what they are asking for. D and O are the youngest grandchildren so I still have the opportunity to have fun shopping for them. As I said here I love to shop on Black Friday!
So tell me what are your family traditions? What do you look forward to the most and how do you transition to the kids growing up?

My Lil Bean!

My lil bean cracked me up last night and made it very obvious what she wants for Christmas.
I had taken the garbage out and she wanted to put the new trash bag in the can. She then grabbed the broom and stuck the broom inside the garbage can and started using it as a microphone! She was singing and dancing. Oh I guess I better be looking for a microphone and stand for her for Christmas!

Days 8 & 9 of being THANKful

Sorry I have been M.I.A. I have been busy with work.
Catching up with my being THANKful posts...

There is only one person I can think of that is worthy of two days worth of being THANKful...I am everything I am because of my Mom! Thank you for all of your hard work and all the sacrifices that you made for us kids. I know that I was not the easiest kid to raise but thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for helping me to be the best person that I can be and for showing me that hard work really does pay off.  I love you!

Day 7 of being THANKful

I am thankful for my extra hour! How many times have we wished for an extra hour in the day well today being day lights saving time we got that extra hour. I don't think that it actually worked very well in my house because my daughter got up an hour earlier and has been crabby all day. However, I did get to have extra time to get my housework done and the best part was spending time making projects with D and O. They love making crafts and we spent about an hour doing that this evening so I will say that my extra hour was very well spent....with my loves! I am very thankful for my extra hour today.

****Winner****Hershey's Moderation Nation Giveaway

#11 is the winner!!! Cheryl F. has been notified via email and has until 7:48am Tuesday to claim her prize!!!!

Day 6 of being THANKful

Today I am thankful for the health of my family. We are for the most part healthy. Sure we get a cold and sometimes the flu but we are healthy. I am thankful that we are not on prescriptions that we have to take daily in order to maintain our lives. I am thankful that we are not going to doctor appointments every week. I am thankful that we don't have to worry about waiting lists and procedures. I am thankful!

Walgreens Thanksgiving 3 day Sale 11/25-11/27

I heart wags has posted the sneak peek of the Walgreens!!! I am so excited! They are calling the register rewards jingle cash.
I am super excited about the number of free after jingle cash there are 15 of them! There is also 11 that are .99-2.99 after jingle cash but I think that there will be some coupons out for those products. I will be looking to get some of the $9.99 toys that are 50% off on Thanksgiving Day. The ad shows a Cabbage Patch Doll and some Disney toys. I am also excited about the PaperJams on sale for $14.99!!!
I absolutely LOVE Black Friday Sales!!! But I already mentioned that here.

Day 5 of being THANKful

There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me.  ~Mary Montagu

Today I am thankful for my sisters. I am the youngest of 6 kids, 4 girls and 2 boys. My parents kind of spread us out, there is 16 years difference between the first child and last. Needless to say that alone should have made for the relationships to be a bit distant. Not the case. My sisters are a piece of my soul! They are different but the same. Each one contributing to my life in a different way but adding a piece of themselves to who I have become.  I can not imagine my life without them, they are so important in my life.
They have been there for me when I was growing up and now when my children are growing up. They have been there in my sad times and in my most happiest times. I have loved them and at times yes I have been angry with them. I hated those that have hurt them and I am sure that at some point I have hurt them...for that I am sorry.
V,D and R....my sisters I love you and am thankful that when God was putting families together that we were blessed enough to get to be sisters!

 A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.  ~Isadora James

Day 4 of being THANKful

One this day I am thankful for my community.
 Last night we spent the evening at the middle school watching this years basketball teams scrimmage against each other. One of the kids said to me "why did you guys decide to come? You don't have any kids playing?" Then said "I am glad you came."  The reason we went is simple I have grown to love my community and wanted to support this event. I live in a small community and I think its important to support the youth of the community so in this particular instance it was a no brainer. I am thankful that we are able to support each other and support an event to better our community.

Remaining THANKful

I am thankful for my job. Although it can be stressful at times I really do enjoy my job. I enjoy helping others and I really do feel like at the end of the day my job matters.  I dream of being able to stay at home and being able to raise my family but financially that is not an option right now.  There are so many people unemployed at this time in our nation that I believe most of us with jobs should be thankful.
Recently we were hiring at our office, an entry level job starting at minimum wage. I was astonished to see the amount of people that showed up, the level of experience and schooling that these people had. I left work that day knowing that my family and I are blessed to have both my husband and myself employed.
What are you thankful for on this 3rd day of November?

Tuesday Bloghop

I am Thankful

This is my Dad and I love him so! I am thankful that he is my Dad. I lost him on February 5, 2006. He has been on my mind alot these last few days as my daughter Olivia has been carrying around pictures of him and "talking" to him. I am thankful that I had a Dad that loved me as much as he did. My Dad wasn't perfect but his love was strong and he taught me that family always comes first. Losing my Dad has been hard I miss him so much and I am saddened that he never got to see Olivia here on earth with us.
In November of 2005, my sister called my Dad to remind him of a Dr. appointment only to find out that my Dad had taken a nasty fall earlier that day a result of blacking out. That was scary and what turned out to be a blessing. My Dad soon had lots of appointments with Dr.'s which turned into heart surgery. We found out that most people in his condition would not have regained consciousness after the black out, my Dad did and spent the next couple months alive. The story is heartbreaking but I know in my heart that my Dad is in Heaven and that one day we will be together again.  I am thankful that I got to be there with my Dad, that he wasn't alone and that without a doubt in my soul I know that he knew how much he was loved.
Hold on to those you love, tell them often that you love them and never hold grudges you seriously never know what the next minute will bring.

Menu Plan Monday

This week is going to be extremely easy for me!  My family tends to not like to eat the leftovers so I have been just putting them in the freezer so this week we are eating out of the freezer.

Monday-Chicken noodles
Tuesday-Nachos
Wednesday-Italian Beefs
Thursday-Frozen pizzas
Friday-Treating the kids to night out
Saturday-undecided as this is the day of my House Party
Sunday-philly steak sandwiches

November the month of THANKSgiving!

November 1st is here...and with that we all usually begin thinking of the holidays and all of the running around that goes with it. I thought maybe for the 30 days in November we could all take a moment and be thankful. I would be happy to have anyone list in the comments what they are thankful for. Maybe we can help each other see different blessings in our lives, what I may see as an obstacle you might see as a blessing.

Today I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. I definately know that with Him all things are possible and without him I am nothing. I love him and I love that my husband and I are teaching our children about him. My daughter gets down on her knees beside me everynight while I pray, it makes my heart swell with pride.
As a couple we had problems and when we came together as a couple and prayed together it formed a bond that was strengthened 1000 times.

Irritation is setting in

I am getting a little irriated as my local newspaper has doesnt have any of the good coupons. So, I had been getting up early on Sunday to head to another town to get the Chicago Tribune as it as the good coupons, however for the last month it has not been having the coupons in it. So, last week I decided that I would just order my coupons online. Well, this afternoon I realized that I had not received them yet. I went to my email and checked and sure enough I had a confirmation stating that the order had been shipped on Monday! I still haven't received them. Ugh! Sometimes I wonder if all the couponing is worth it...trust me I know it is but right now I am so frustrated it is unreal!

Kroger trip saved 72 %

So I went to Kroger last night and got a bunch of...well not much healthy stuff! I did get 10 items of the Frozen Foods Mega sale so that gave $5 off and I bought 4 GM cereals that gave me an instant $6 off.
I also got:
2 Chips Ahoy $1.99 ea
 -used $1/2
1 Oreo Fudge Cream $2.50
 -used $1/1
6 Skittles .50 ea
 -used .50/1 tearpad
6 Starbusts
 -used .50/1 tearpad
2 1/2 Gallons of Chocolate Milk
 .88 each
1 Tombstone Pizza $1.99
 -used $1/1 Houseparty Coupon
1 Baby Ruth Candybar Funsize $2.18
 -used $1/1 House Party Coupon
1 12 pack of Big K Red Cola $1.99
 -used $1/1 Catalina
2- Eggo Waffles $1.49 ea
 -used $1/2 peelie and $1/2 Catalina
2- HungryMan TV Dinners $1.99
 -used $2/1 Facebook coupon
1- Kroger Powdered Sugar $1.50
1-Betty Crocker white cake $1.00
1- DanActive Yogurt on clearance for .99
 -used $1/1
2-Dananimals on clearance for $1.29 each
 -used 2 $1/1 found at the Pediatricians office
2- Crunch Funsize Candybars $2.18 each
 -used $1/2
1- Kandoo wipes $2.34
 -used $1/1
2-Cherrios
 -used $1/1 peelie
2-Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereals
 -used 2 .65/1 printables
 -used 2 .55 ecoupon
1 TGIF Snacks $2.49
4 Kids Cuisine tv dinners (my kids LOVE me for finally buying them these) $1.89 ea
 -used .55/2 ALLYOU magazine coupon
1 Kroger Hashbrown $1.77
Kroger Value Shredded Cheese $1.24

Total was $24.09 Out of Pocket!

House Party Pack Arrived today

My wonderful Fed-Ex man brought my Perler Beads House Party box today. I was so excited to see everything that they supplied.
There is enough kits for 15 kids to do one of each of the Monkey and Lizards, there are keychains, beads, and catalogs, coupons, and even a not in stores yet kit for my family for hosting the party. I am so excited to let my kids and their friends come over and have a great time making the animals and having a snack.
Thank you House Party!

***HOT*** Victoria's Secret Deal: $12.00!!!!

Victoria's Secret has released a new code that will give you free shipping( anywhere in the lower 48 states) with the purchase of a sweater or sweaterdress. (valid thru 10/31)

You can buy this turtleneck sweater for $12 plus tax and then enter code SHIPWARMVS.  It gets better because you can get the shirt above free when you enter  BOMBTEE.  Then you can enter LIPGIFT10 for a free lip gloss set.

This is the deal that I did and my total came up to $12.75! Pretty sweet deal for a sweater, a t-shirt and a lip gloss set. You can only enter 3 codes when you checkout.

Thanks, It's Hip 2 Save

Friday=Mega Swagbucks Day

Don't forget today is  Mega Swag Bucks Day! If you have not signed up for Swagbucks it is a terrific way to win gift cards. It takes 450 swagbucks to get a $5 Amazon Giftcard. I personally am saving these to use at Christmas. Sign up here.

Friday Bloghop

Facebook Follow Friday

Toy Story 3 $8/1 Coupon

Disney Movie Rewards has released a new coupon for Toy Story 3. This coupon is $8/1 Blu-Ray Combo Pack! I am not sure exactly where the best place to use this is right now as I believe more of the stores will be advertising this weekend in the sales ads. Keep your eye out for a great deal and if you find one come back and let us know.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards

November is right around the corner which means alot of people that I know are thinking about that perfect picture that will be used for their family Christmas card.
We have already had some wonderful pictures taken of the kids thanks to our friend, Jessica.

Have you visited Shutterfly lately? They have so many different styles of Christmas cards available but they also have Christmas invitations and stationary and adorable gift tags.

I believe I have narrowed down my selection to 3 for our family Christmas card

Family Wall Noir Christmas Card

I love that we could add so many photos of the family with this one.

                                   Bright Colored Lights Christmas card

This card looks like a fun card, I like the black and white and then the splash of color.

                                      Believe in Magic Religious Card

I really like this one, the message and the bright red card with the stars. I just know that this would be a card that everyone would love.



With all of the choices I have at Shutterfly I can't say that I have definately decided on exactly what our Christmas card will be this year. Maybe you could help me. Which one do you like? Did you find a favorite when you visited Shutterfly?



I will be receiving 50 free cards from Shutterfly for this post. The post is 100% my words and opinions. I have received no monetary compensation for this post.
If you are a blogger and would like to receive 50 free cards from Shutterfly visit http://bit.ly/sfly2010